Which region receives the most rainfall?

• A. Coastal Plain
• B. Appalachian Plateau
• C. Blue Ridge
• D. Piedmont

Answer: (C)

Moisture and elevation shape where rain tends to fall the most. When moist air moves in from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic, it is forced to rise over mountain terrain. As it climbs the slopes, it cools and the water vapor condenses into clouds and rain. The Blue Ridge Mountains are high and act as a strong barrier, creating heavy, frequent rainfall on their windward side and in their higher elevations. Flat or lower-lying areas like the Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and Appalachian Plateau don’t lift air as dramatically, so they don’t receive as much total rainfall. That combination of tall, moisture-lifting terrain and a constant supply of moist air is why the Blue Ridge region tends to have the most rain.